Use this maltese growth chart guide to understand puppy size, development, adult weight, growth milestones, and when your Maltese may stop growing.
Understanding How Maltese Puppies Grow
Watching a tiny Maltese puppy grow is exciting, but it can also lead to plenty of questions. How big will your puppy become? Is your Maltese growing quickly enough? When will growth slow down? A maltese growth chart can provide general context, but it should never be treated as a guarantee of a puppy’s eventual adult size.
Maltese are a toy breed, so much of their physical growth occurs relatively early compared with larger dogs. However, puppies don’t all develop at exactly the same rate. Genetics, sex, nutrition, overall health, and individual development can influence both growth patterns and mature size.
Many families underestimate how much a puppy can change during the first year. Growth isn’t limited to the number on the scale. Puppies are also developing coordination, teeth, muscle, confidence, social skills, and adult behavior.
This guide explains typical Maltese growth and development from birth through adulthood, how to use a maltese growth chart responsibly, what affects adult size, and when an unusual change in your puppy’s growth deserves a conversation with your veterinarian.
Quick Answer: How big do Maltese dogs get?
Maltese are small toy dogs. The American Kennel Club breed standard specifies a weight under 7 pounds, with 4 to 6 pounds preferred, although individual pet Maltese may fall outside that range. Most physical growth occurs during puppyhood, but puppies can continue filling out and maturing after their fastest period of weight gain has ended. Genetics and the size of the parents are usually more informative than any online maltese growth chart when estimating an individual puppy’s adult size.
Maltese Growth Chart by Age
A maltese growth chart is best used to understand developmental stages rather than predict that a puppy must weigh a particular amount on a particular date.
Because individual Maltese can vary considerably, the following timeline focuses on what owners may notice throughout development rather than promising exact weights.
| Age | General Growth & Development |
|---|---|
| Birth–8 weeks | Rapid early growth, nursing and weaning, increasing mobility, early social development |
| 8–12 weeks | Steady physical growth, improving coordination, beginning life with a new family |
| 3–4 months | Continued growth, increased activity, teething, rapid learning |
| 4–6 months | Adult teeth developing, legs and body changing, greater coordination and confidence |
| 6–9 months | Physical growth often begins slowing, adolescence becomes more noticeable |
| 9–12 months | Many Maltese approach mature height and weight, although development continues |
| 12+ months | Adult body condition and coat continue developing; behavioral maturity takes longer |
This timeline is intentionally broad. One healthy puppy may grow rapidly during one month and more slowly during the next.
Instead of comparing your puppy obsessively with another Maltese of the same age, track your own puppy’s pattern over time and discuss significant concerns with your veterinarian.
How Big Does a Full-Grown Maltese Get?
According to the American Kennel Club breed standard, the Maltese should weigh under 7 pounds, with 4 to 6 pounds preferred. The breed standard also describes a compact toy dog rather than a miniature version of a larger breed.
Pet dogs do not necessarily fall precisely within show-standard measurements. An individual Maltese may mature larger or smaller depending on genetics and other factors.
Adult size is influenced by:
- Genetics
- Parent size
- Sex
- Nutrition
- Health
- Individual development
If you’re bringing home a puppy from a responsible breeder, information about the parents and previous puppies from similar pairings may offer useful context. Even then, adult weight cannot be predicted perfectly.
The American Kennel Club’s Maltese breed information provides additional information about the breed’s standard, characteristics, and expected size.
Be cautious of websites that claim a simple multiplication formula can determine an eight-week-old puppy’s exact adult weight. Growth is biological, not mathematical, and individual puppies do not develop at identical rates.
When Do Maltese Puppies Stop Growing?
One of the most common questions surrounding a maltese growth chart is when the numbers finally stop changing.
As a toy breed, the Maltese generally reaches physical maturity sooner than medium, large, or giant breeds. Many Maltese are approaching their mature size by around their first birthday, although the exact timeline varies.
There is also a difference between reaching adult height and becoming a fully mature adult dog.
After rapid skeletal growth slows, you may still notice changes in:
- Muscle development
- Body proportions
- Coat texture and length
- Coordination
- Confidence
- Behavior
A 10-month-old Maltese may therefore look close to adult size while still behaving very much like an adolescent.
Behavioral and emotional maturity develops on a different timeline from physical growth. Continuing training and socialization after your puppy reaches adult size is important.
Maltese Puppy Development: Birth to 12 Weeks
The earliest weeks involve some of the most dramatic changes in a Maltese puppy’s life.
Newborn puppies depend entirely on their mother. Over the following weeks, their senses develop, mobility improves, and they begin interacting more actively with their littermates and environment.
During this period, responsible breeders provide age-appropriate handling and positive experiences while allowing puppies plenty of opportunities to sleep, nurse, play, and develop naturally.
By the time puppies are ready to transition to their new families, they are still very young developmentally.
The first weeks at home should focus on establishing predictable routines for:
- Meals
- Potty breaks
- Sleep
- Gentle grooming
- Handling
- Play
- Training
- Safe socialization
Owners sometimes become so focused on physical growth that they overlook these behavioral milestones. A puppy’s ability to recover from a new experience, settle independently, accept grooming, and engage with people can be just as important as what appears on the scale.
What Happens Between 3 and 6 Months?
The three-to-six-month period can bring substantial changes.
Your puppy may become taller, more coordinated, and increasingly adventurous. Teething is also an important part of this stage as puppy teeth are replaced by permanent adult teeth.
You may notice:
- Increased chewing
- Greater curiosity
- Longer periods of activity
- Faster learning
- Changing body proportions
- Growing confidence
- Increasing independence
This is an important period for continued positive training.
Don’t interpret increasing confidence as a sign that socialization is finished. Puppies still benefit from controlled exposure to people, environments, surfaces, sounds, grooming, veterinary handling, and other appropriate experiences.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior provides guidance emphasizing the importance of appropriate early puppy socialization and reward-based learning.
Maltese Adolescence: 6 to 12 Months
A puppy that looks increasingly adult can still make very puppy-like decisions.
During adolescence, Maltese puppies may become more independent, distracted, energetic, or willing to test behaviors that previously seemed well established.
Owners sometimes describe this as their puppy “forgetting” training. In reality, adolescence is a developmental stage, and continued consistency matters.
Keep practicing:
- Recall
- Loose-leash walking
- Calm greetings
- Grooming cooperation
- Handling
- Settling
- Appropriate chewing
- Independent rest
Physical growth may be slowing during this period, but brain and behavioral development continue.
This distinction is important when using a maltese growth chart. Reaching adult weight doesn’t mean your puppy has reached adult maturity in every sense.
What Determines a Maltese Puppy’s Adult Size?
Genetics has a major influence on adult size.
A puppy born to smaller parents may be more likely to remain toward the smaller end of the breed’s range, while larger parents may produce larger offspring. However, genetic inheritance is complex, which is why even puppies within the same litter can mature at somewhat different sizes.
Nutrition also matters, but owners should never intentionally overfeed a puppy in an attempt to make them grow faster.
Likewise, restricting an appropriate complete and balanced diet to keep a puppy artificially tiny can compromise health.
Healthy development is more important than reaching a particular number.
Your veterinarian can monitor growth during puppy examinations and help determine whether your puppy’s body condition and development appear appropriate.
Why Body Condition Matters More Than a Number
A number on a maltese growth chart cannot tell you whether your individual dog is at an ideal body condition.
Two adult Maltese can weigh differently while both being healthy because their frames and body composition differ.
Veterinarians often use a body condition score to assess whether a dog is too thin, at an appropriate condition, or carrying excess body fat.
Generally, owners should be able to feel their dog’s ribs without pressing through a thick layer of fat, while an appropriate waist should be visible when looking from above. Exact appearance varies with coat and body structure, and a Maltese’s long hair can make visual assessment particularly difficult.
This is one reason hands-on evaluation matters.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association provides body condition scoring and nutritional assessment resources for dogs.
Regular veterinary visits give you an opportunity to compare your puppy’s growth against their own previous measurements rather than against arbitrary numbers found online.
Nutrition and Healthy Maltese Growth
Proper nutrition supports normal growth, but more food does not create a healthier puppy.
Young Maltese should receive a complete and balanced diet appropriate for growth. Because they are a toy breed with small stomachs, young puppies may require multiple appropriately sized meals throughout the day.
Follow feeding recommendations from your breeder and veterinarian, and adjust portions as your puppy grows.
Avoid:
- Routinely overfeeding
- Excessive treats
- Unnecessary supplements
- Frequent table scraps
- Adding calcium without veterinary guidance
- Changing foods repeatedly without a reason
Treats used during training also count toward daily calorie intake.
As growth slows, calorie requirements can change. Continuing puppy-sized portions or feeding habits indefinitely may contribute to unwanted weight gain.
Your veterinarian can help determine when your Maltese should transition from puppy food to an adult maintenance diet.
When Should You Worry About Your Puppy’s Growth?
Variation is normal, but sudden or unexplained changes deserve attention.
Contact your veterinarian if your Maltese puppy:
- Stops gaining weight unexpectedly during active growth
- Loses weight
- Consistently refuses food
- Has repeated vomiting or diarrhea
- Seems unusually weak or lethargic
- Develops a swollen or painful abdomen
- Has difficulty eating or chewing
- Shows a significant change in drinking or urination
- Appears dramatically thinner despite eating normally
Very young toy-breed puppies also require particular attention to consistent nutrition. Small puppies can be vulnerable to low blood sugar, especially when very young, stressed, ill, or not eating appropriately.
Don’t wait for a maltese growth chart to confirm that something is wrong if your puppy is showing concerning physical symptoms. A veterinarian can assess the whole puppy rather than a single weight measurement.
A Responsible Breeder Perspective on Maltese Growth
At The Maltese Homestead, families understandably want to know how big their puppy will become. Adult size matters when preparing supplies, choosing equipment, and simply imagining life with your future companion.
However, we encourage families to view predicted size as an estimate rather than a promise.
A responsible conversation about growth should consider the puppy’s parents, genetics, current development, body condition, and overall health. A single weight measurement cannot guarantee an exact adult size.
For families considering our Available Puppies, we can provide information about the parents and the puppy’s development to help establish realistic expectations.
More importantly, we encourage families to focus on raising a healthy, confident Maltese rather than trying to achieve an unusually small number on the scale.
Focus on Healthy Development, Not the Smallest Size
A maltese growth chart can be helpful when it gives owners a framework for understanding how quickly puppies change. Problems arise when a general chart becomes a target that every puppy is expected to hit exactly.
Your Maltese is an individual.
Track weight during veterinary visits, learn how to evaluate body condition, provide appropriate nutrition, maintain preventive veterinary care, and pay attention to developmental milestones beyond physical size.
During the first year, your puppy isn’t simply becoming heavier. They are learning how to communicate, developing confidence, building lifelong habits, growing an adult coat, and discovering how to navigate the world around them.
By focusing on the whole puppy instead of a single number, families can use a maltese growth chart for what it does best: providing general context while allowing each Maltese to develop at their own healthy pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big will my Maltese puppy get?
The AKC Maltese breed standard specifies a weight under 7 pounds, with 4 to 6 pounds preferred, but individual pet Maltese can fall outside that range. Parent size, genetics, sex, and individual development all influence mature size.
When do Maltese puppies stop growing?
Many Maltese are approaching their adult physical size by around their first birthday because toy breeds mature relatively quickly. However, body composition, coat, behavior, and emotional maturity can continue changing afterward.
Can a Maltese growth chart predict exact adult weight?
No. A maltese growth chart can provide general developmental context, but it cannot guarantee an individual puppy’s adult weight. Genetics and information about the parents usually provide more useful context.
How often should I weigh my Maltese puppy?
Your veterinarian will monitor weight during routine puppy appointments. If there is a particular concern about growth or nutrition, ask your veterinarian whether additional at-home weigh-ins are appropriate and how frequently they should occur.
Why is my Maltese smaller than another puppy the same age?
Healthy puppies can grow at different rates, even when they are the same breed and age. Genetics, parent size, sex, nutrition, and individual development can all contribute to differences.
Should I feed my Maltese puppy more to help them grow?
Do not intentionally overfeed a puppy to increase growth. Feed an appropriate complete and balanced puppy diet in portions suited to your puppy’s age and needs, and ask your veterinarian about any concerns regarding slow growth or body condition.
